Sure the world is going to hell... [Closed]

[myworknotme]

Characters: Ariane Emory and Iroh
Content: Both ships are out in the same area, so Iroh comes to visit his tsundere love interest the acting Captain of the Amestris.
Setting: Ari's quarters on the Amestris.
Time: Evening, the day that the Convoy arrives near Shashta.
Warnings: TBA, though will likely be just extreme sappiness, tsun, and lots of

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[myfavoritetea]

Iroh managed to find her quarters without too much difficulty, though he'd been stopped on a number of occasions by well-meaning crew members who thought he was just another lost refugee. He couldn't blame them, really. The old Firebender had tried his best banish the bone-weariness from his face and posture, but having had a very stressful last few days, it was difficult. He was forced to admit he was not as young as he used to be. Still, he was smiling easily enough. Knowing that Ari had actually missed him, even if she hadn't said it in so many words, was enough to make him beam ridiculously despite the bags under his eyes.

Carrying his compact tea caddy under his arm (sadly his large assortment was not ideal for travel), he finally arrived at the door to her room. Even though he knew he was expected, he still knocked very politely on the door. He was many things, but rude was most certainly not one of them.

[myworknotme]

A knock that polite could only mean that he'd arrived. Over the last couple of days, the crew had ceased knocking more than once when she was in the office, and knew better than to bother her at all once she'd retired to bed for her meager few hours of rest. Deanna didn't knock at all.

Standing from her seat in one of the two chairs in the room, Ari made her way to the door, walking more slowly than usual to accommodate the aches and pains that she'd been accumulating. Everything hurt from the time that she got up till the time that she went to bed again, and sleep did little to help. On opening the door, she saw exactly the person that she'd been expecting. He looked as though he'd been through hell as well, though the ridiculous grin on his face seemed rather out of place. "At least someone around here is in a good mood," she said by way of greeting, and gestured to the room. "Come in."

[myfavoritetea]

Iroh was not at all perturbed by her rather odd choice of greeting. He was too busy looking at her. Even tired as she very obviously was, he thought she looked absolutely lovely. His smile lessened just a little at the stiff way she was moving. Apparently the last few days had been rough on her as well.

He entered the room, looking around at her quarters with interest. Her taste level was about as high as his was, he noted, though more modern. Her rooms gave off less of a feeling of being inviting and lived-in as well, but that did not bother him. While he normally would have greeted her with a polite 'hello' or maybe 'good evening, Ari,' her own first sentence had set the tone, and he responded accordingly. "Not enjoying your new position, then?" he teased softly. "...It is lovely to see you," he added, unable to help it.

[myworknotme]

Feeling his eyes on her as they were, Ari straightened a little, though her posture was still indicative of being tired beyond what she'd care to be. The dark circles under his own eyes made it apparent that he'd been through a lot as well, she thought as she shut and locked both of the locks on the door. One had come with the quarters, and one she'd installed herself shortly after her arrival. She wanted to make damned certain that her privacy was respected, and that was most important of all in her room

[myfavoritetea]

Very aware that her present state of dress was a deliberate attempt at demonstrating her own power over the situation, Iroh had to stifle a chuckle. Apparently she wasn't aware that she'd given him all the pieces he needed to win this particular game a long time ago. He certainly wasn't about to inform her of the fact. He was enjoying watching the game unfold, even if the ending was assured. As much as it could be, anyway, provided the damned continent managed to stay in one piece long enough for him to formally declare victory

[myworknotme]

Ari was beginning to relax from the rhythmic and steady strokes, even through her clothing. Would it really be conceding defeat if she took the camisole off, she wondered? Most likely yes, though she would then be able to use the leverage that she might be granted to her advantage. It was a situation where she was actually uncertain of how she wanted to proceed, and that in turn frustrated her.

When he spoke, she considered his words in full while he waited. It would be best for him to adjust the subluxation. All of her medical knowledge told her that, left untreated, the injury would only get worse. Giving up some ground was worth that. "I'll relax, then, sweet. The sooner that's properly aligned again, the better." She felt ambivalent about the words as she said them, knowing that she was giving in. It would be better this way, she told herself. She couldn't continue to be acting Captain if she didn't take care of herself, after all.

[myfavoritetea]

He nodded again, though he knew she couldn't really see it from her current position, and lightly placed his hands around the back of her neck. He tested his control over it, waiting for her to completely relax into his touch before he made a move. He paid careful attention to her breathing, and when he felt she was ready, he exhaled himself. "Drop your shoulders," he said gently. It was more a distraction than anything else, for on her next exhale, he sharply twisted her neck first one direction and then the other, realigning her vertebrae to the sound of very loud cracks.

He ran his fingers up and down the back of her neck, checking its positioning. Much, much better. He smiled, both at the corrected state of her spine and that she seemed to trust him enough to do this. "Very good." Digging his fingers in just a bit more, he began to move down to her shoulders, and continued his earlier pattern of high pressure and relaxing rubbing.

[myworknotme]

Ari felt his hands change position even if she couldn't see the nod. He felt very sure of himself, and she trusted that. It was a surety that came from years of practice at something, and as such, helped her to relax. Iroh understood what he was doing, she thought as she slowed her breathing to help with the relaxation. She dropped her shoulders as he instructed her to, though it didn't quite prepare her for his next action. It came with startling quickness, and the pain was over almost as soon as it had started, but a definite ache remained afterward.

Another deep breath, then another, as he checked her new alignment and seemed satisfied with it. "Excellent," she murmured, as much to herself as to anyone else. The pressure that he was putting on her shoulders now might have ached a little, but it was at least a familiar pattern.

[myworknotme]

She was usually far more able to resist the hurt looks that others gave her, but she relented just a tiny bit when the dejected look on Iroh's face made her unexpectedly feel sorry for him. Ari pushed that emotion away--it wasn't useful here, and would only encourage more fluxing. "No, sweet, that's definitely not how coffee works, unless you want to keep the person drinking it up all day and through the night." Pursing her lips, she shook her head with another little laugh. "Even then," she said as she went to the hook on the back of the door, pulled down, then put on her robe, "it would taste vile

[myfavoritetea]

"Doesn't it taste vile anyway?" he muttered under his breath as he watched her lovely curves be hidden away by her robe. And Iroh was indeed about to lodge a protest, though whether it would have been about making coffee or the fact that she was distressingly no longer nude would never be known, because his words froze in his throat. Moving over to her in an almost stunned silence at practically being invited to drop in on her any time he could, Iroh picked up one of his underobes from its place on the chair and slid it on over his head before reaching her side.

He smiled at her genuinely, still a bit abashed from his mistake but mollified enough by her words that it was beginning to not matter. He slid one of his hands lightly around her waist, hugging her to him gently before releasing her again. "In that case," he murmured, "I suppose I cannot complain about it too much." He smiled again, and then turned his attention to how one properly made this absurd beverage. If you could call it that. Iroh got the vague sensation that,

[myworknotme]

To her credit, Ari did not freeze up as soon as Iroh's arm had curled around her waist. She did find the sudden closeness and the embrace jarring, but was beginning to expect such things from him. "Good," she replied, her words accompanied by a small laugh that was genuine and not at his expense at all. It was a rarity for her, and she hoped to hell that he appreciated it. "I see you have some sense after all." Her tone was gently teasing. She'd had a good night's sleep, and was feeling better than she had in days

[myfavoritetea]

"I doubt you'd find me very interesting if I did not," he winked. Distracted a bit by her laugh, Iroh beamed enough that he did not even wrinkle his nose as the scent of coffee filled the room. It smelled decent enough, he supposed, but far too robust for his personal taste. Still, he supposed smelling the stuff was something he could learn to accept... grudgingly. Especially if it made her smile the way she was doing now